Ingredient Guide

The Apawthecary Co.

Ingredient Guide

Curious about what’s in your body care, herbal tea or candle? Explore the ingredients below: what they are, why they’re used and the kinds of products they appear in.

Quick points explain what each ingredient is, where we use it and what it contributes. Custom and draft-only ingredients are identified in their entries; always check the exact product you choose.

Ingredient coverage and explanations reviewed October 26, 2026.

Leaping Bunny Certified U.S.-Based Suppliers Component Ingredients Disclosed Organic Herb Ingredients Product-Specific Labels Control

Herb sourcing: We source our dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs. Where stated, organic refers to the documented herb ingredients. It does not mean every extract, ingredient or finished product is certified organic.

How to use this guide: Choose a category to read about each ingredient’s role and product types. Ingredients used in an oil, tea or candle are not interchangeable; the preparation and intended use matter.

Before buying or using a specific product, read its current ingredient list, directions and cautions. If two sources appear to disagree, contact us before use so we can check the exact product. Ingredients, allergens, intended use and warnings vary by item.

We purchase through U.S.-based suppliers, but agricultural ingredients and individual components may be grown or manufactured in other countries. “U.S.-based supplier” does not mean every ingredient is U.S.-grown.

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Butters, Oils & Waxes

These ingredients provide emollience, glide, structure, cleansing balance, infusion media, or candle body depending on the formula.

Shea Butter

What it is: A rich butter from shea nuts.
In our formulas: Adds body to Low-Key Lip Balm, Lit Lotion Bar and Get a Grip; also appears in selected soaps.
For your skin: Softens dry, rough-feeling areas and helps hold moisture in leave-on products; contributes creaminess in soap.

Mango Butter

What it is: A firm butter pressed from mango kernels.
In our formulas: Helps structure Low-Key Lip Balm, She Thick and Lit Lotion Bar.
For your skin: Adds smooth glide and softening lipids without relying on liquid oil alone.

Cupuaçu Butter

What it is: A soft butter from cupuaçu seeds.
In our formulas: Adds cushion to lip balms, body butters, salves, Get a Grip and selected shampoo bars.
For you: Helps dry skin feel softer; balances firmness and spread so rich products apply more comfortably.

Cocoa Butter

What it is: A firm fat from cocoa beans.
In our formulas: Appears in selected cold-process soaps and the cocoa-butter component of Grounds for Whiskey.
For your wash: Helps build a firm bar and a creamy, conditioning wash feel.

Olive Oil, Olive Fruit Oil & Olive Pomace Oil

What it is: Oils obtained from olive fruit; pomace identifies a different extraction source.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps and bath or shower products, according to the ingredient list.
For you: Adds emollient slip in oil-containing products and contributes to the character of the soap after saponification.

Coconut Oil

What it is: A plant oil from coconut flesh.
In our formulas: A soapmaking oil in selected cleansing bars and an ingredient in some bath formulas.
For your wash: Helps build bar firmness and bubbly cleansing lather; its role in soap differs from raw oil on skin.

Fractionated Coconut Oil

What it is: A processed coconut-derived oil that stays liquid.
In our formulas: Helps spread oils, balms, lotions and scrubs; also carries selected botanical infusions.
For your skin: Adds lightweight slip and softening without the firmness of ordinary coconut oil.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

What it is: A lightweight emollient made from glycerin and medium-chain fatty acids.
In our formulas: A disclosed ingredient within our solid-shampoo component.
For your wash: Supports smooth spread and conditioning feel within the cleansing formula.

Sunflower Oil

What it is: An oil pressed from sunflower seeds.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps and as the carrier for our supplier-prepared arnica CO2 extract.
For you: Contributes softening lipids or carries a concentrated botanical evenly through the formula.

Safflower Oil

What it is: A seed oil from safflower.
In our formulas: Included within selected melt-and-pour soap components.
For your wash: Helps shape the soap's fatty-acid balance and conditioning character.

Soybean Oil

What it is: A plant oil from soybeans.
In our formulas: Part of selected soap recipes.
For your wash: Contributes to the bar's structure and conditioning character; check labels if you avoid soy-derived ingredients.

Canola Oil

What it is: A plant oil from canola seeds.
In our formulas: Part of selected cold-process soap recipes.
For your wash: Helps balance the blend of soapmaking oils and the finished bar's feel.

Palm Oil

What it is: A solid plant oil from oil-palm fruit.
In our formulas: Present in selected manufactured melt-and-pour soap components.
For your wash: Helps form a firm bar with stable lather.

Castor Oil

What it is: A naturally thick oil from castor seeds.
In our formulas: Adds cushion to Low-Key Lip Balm and slip to selected cuticle, beard and skin oils.
For you: Helps balms stay on lips and softens dry cuticles; in soap it supports lather.

Jojoba Oil & Botanical-Infused Jojoba Oil

What it is: A liquid plant wax used as an emollient and infusion carrier.
In our formulas: Calendula and chamomile infusions appear in selected oils, salves, lotions and shampoo bars.
For your skin: Adds glide and softness while carrying oil-soluble botanical constituents; an oil infusion is different from tea or essential oil.

Sweet Almond Oil

What it is: An emollient oil derived from almonds.
In our formulas: Adds spreadability to Smooth Operator, Like A Boss and scrubs; carries calendula in Stayin’ Salty.
For your skin: Softens dry areas and makes massage easier. Review the exact product if you have an almond allergy.

Squalane

What it is: A stable, lightweight emollient.
In our formulas: Used in Low-Key Lotion, Smooth Operator, Tune Up and selected balms and body care.
For your skin: Helps soften dry areas and improves glide with less heaviness than a butter-rich formula.

Aloe Vera Oil

What it is: An oil-compatible aloe ingredient, distinct from water-based aloe gel.
In our formulas: Used in Balmy Behavior and Herbal Skin Salve.
For your skin: Adds emollient conditioning; aloe-gel research does not establish the same effect for this oil preparation.

Beeswax

What it is: A natural wax produced by bees.
In our formulas: Structures lip balms, salves and Lit Lotion Bar.
For your skin: Helps the product stay where applied and forms a moisture-retaining film. Not vegan.

Lanolin

What it is: A wax obtained from sheep's wool.
In our formulas: Adds richness and adhesion to Low-Key Lip Balm, Get a Grip and selected balms.
For your skin: Helps reduce moisture loss and soften dry patches. Avoid if lanolin-sensitive; not vegan.

Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate)

What it is: A stable vitamin E derivative used for skin conditioning.
In our formulas: Included in selected oils, balms, lotions and scrubs.
For your skin: Supports a soft, conditioned feel. This acetate form is not our oil antioxidant or antimicrobial preservative.

Rosemary Oleoresin Extract (ROE)

What it is: A concentrated rosemary antioxidant, distinct from rosemary essential oil.
In our formulas: Added in small amounts to selected oil-containing products.
For your product: Helps slow oxidation and rancid odors in oils; does not replace protection against bacteria, yeast or mold.

Rosehip Seed Oil

What it is: An oil pressed from rosehip seeds, distinct from rose petals or dried rosehip fruit.
In our formulas: Used in selected custom oil and Low-Key lotion formulas, not every standard version.
For your skin: Supplies emollient fatty acids for softness and flexibility; not equivalent to retinol or a vitamin C serum.

Soap, Cleansing & Shampoo Components

These ingredients support cleansing, lather, bar structure, conditioning feel, texture, and stability depending on the soap or solid-shampoo formula.

Distilled Water, Purified Water & Aqua

What it is: Purified water; “aqua” is its cosmetic ingredient name.
In our formulas: The water phase of lotions and a solvent in soap, shampoo and bath formulas.
For you: Dissolves water-soluble ingredients and helps lotions spread with a lighter feel.

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

What it is: The alkali that reacts with oils to make true soap.
In our formulas: Used in soapmaking and disclosed within selected soap components.
For your wash: Creates the cleansing soap itself; correctly formulated and completed soap has no excess active lye.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

What it is: A cleansing surfactant made from coconut fatty acids, also called SCI.
In our formulas: The principal cleanser in our solid-shampoo base.
For your hair: Lifts oils and buildup with creamy, soap-free lather.

Glycerin / Vegetable Glycerin

What it is: A humectant, meaning it attracts and holds water.
In our formulas: Used in lotions, scrubs, soaps and shampoo.
For your skin: Helps maintain hydration in leave-on care and supports smooth product texture.

Propylene Glycol

What it is: A water-binding solvent and humectant.
In our formulas: Present in selected soap, shampoo and preservative components.
For your product: Helps ingredients dissolve and distribute evenly while supporting a smooth feel.

Glyceryl Stearate

What it is: A fatty-acid-based emulsifying and conditioning ingredient.
In our formulas: Included within our solid-shampoo component.
For your wash: Helps the bar hold together and supports a smooth, even texture.

Sorbitol

What it is: A sugar alcohol with water-binding properties.
In our formulas: Part of selected melt-and-pour soap components.
For your wash: Helps maintain the base's texture and smooth glide.

Sorbitan Oleate

What it is: An emulsifier made from sorbitol and oleic acid.
In our formulas: Present in selected melt-and-pour soap components.
For your product: Helps different ingredients mix consistently instead of separating.

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

What it is: Plant protein broken into smaller, water-compatible pieces.
In our formulas: Included in the solid-shampoo base.
For your hair: Supports conditioning and smoother-feeling hair; does not permanently repair damaged hair.

Oat Protein

What it is: A processed oat-derived conditioning ingredient.
In our formulas: Present in selected melt-and-pour soaps.
For your wash: Adds conditioning character; distinct from the scrubby texture of ground oats or fine colloidal oatmeal.

Sodium Lactate

What it is: The sodium salt of lactic acid.
In our formulas: Used in selected cold-process soaps.
For your bar: Helps with firmness and clean unmolding; its presence does not make the soap an exfoliating acid treatment.

Citric Acid

What it is: An acid used for formula balance and fizz.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps, hand wash, bath bombs and shower steamers.
For you: Reacts with baking soda for fizz; supports pH adjustment or metal-ion control in other formulas.

Sodium Gluconate

What it is: A chelator that binds trace metal ions.
In our formulas: Used in selected lotions and soaps.
For your product: Helps limit metal-related instability and supports more consistent performance.

Granulated Sugar

What it is: Ordinary sugar used in a small amount during soapmaking.
In our formulas: Included in selected cold-process soap recipes.
For your wash: Supports lather; the dissolved sugar is different from the exfoliating crystals in a scrub.

Honey

What it is: A bee-produced ingredient.
In our formulas: Present in selected soap components, including Golden Oat & Honey.
For your wash: Contributes to the formula's lather and character. Not vegan.

Foaming Hand-Wash Cleansers

What they are: Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate.
In our formulas: The cleanser blend in Palm Party foaming hand wash.
For your hands: Helps water lift away everyday oils and dirt; the pump mixes in air to create foam.

Soap Salts in Shea Bases

What they are: Sodium Stearate, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Shea Butterate, Sodium Laurate and Sodium Myristate.
In our formulas: Cleansing ingredients in selected manufactured shea-soap components.
For your wash: Build the bar and its lather. Sodium shea butterate is soap made from shea butter, not unreacted butter.

Sodium Chloride

What it is: Common salt.
In our formulas: Present in selected soap components.
For your bar: Helps control texture and formulation; this small component does not make the soap a salt scrub.

Formula Support, Texture & Preservation

Responsible formulation sometimes requires emulsifiers, thickeners, chelators, antioxidants, and preservatives. Their job is to help a product remain stable, usable, and appropriately protected for its format.

Cetearyl Olivate

What it is: An olive-derived emulsifier, paired with sorbitan olivate in Olivem 1000.
In our formulas: Helps combine oil and water in Low-Key, Velvet & Ember and Get a Grip.
For your skin: Makes it possible to deliver moisturizing oils in an even, spreadable lotion.

Sorbitan Olivate

What it is: The companion emulsifier in Olivem 1000.
In our formulas: Works alongside cetearyl olivate in our emulsified lotions and creams.
For your product: Helps keep oil and water blended so each application has a consistent texture.

Cetyl Alcohol

What it is: A waxy fatty alcohol, different from drying ethanol.
In our formulas: Adds structure to lotions, She Thick and Lit Lotion Bar.
For your skin: Improves glide and cushion while helping the formula stay thick and even.

Xanthan Gum

What it is: A fermentation-derived thickener.
In our formulas: Used at low levels in selected water-based lotions and creams.
For your product: Helps manage flow and keeps ingredients more evenly suspended.

DL-Panthenol (Provitamin B5)

What it is: A water-binding, conditioning ingredient related to vitamin B5.
In our formulas: Used in lotions, Get a Grip and solid shampoo bars.
For you: Supports skin hydration and softer-feeling hair within the complete formula.

Polysorbate 80

What it is: An ingredient that helps oils disperse in water.
In our formulas: Used in scrubs, Stayin’ Salty and selected bath or shower products.
For you: Helps oils and fragrance distribute and rinse away more evenly; tubs can still be slippery.

Isopropyl Alcohol

What it is: A volatile processing aid.
In our formulas: Helps bind selected shower-steamer mixtures during manufacture.
For your product: Supports shaping and drying; it is not included as a moisturizing active.

Phenoxyethanol

What it is: A preservative.
In our formulas: Part of selected shampoo, scrub and Palm Party preservation systems.
For your product: Helps control microbial growth during normal use as part of a complete preservation system.

Potassium Sorbate

What it is: A preservative component that helps control yeast and mold.
In our formulas: Included within our solid-shampoo base.
For your product: Supports preservation under the formula's appropriate pH and use conditions.

Disodium EDTA

What it is: A chelator that binds certain metal ions.
In our formulas: Included in our solid-shampoo component.
For your wash: Helps reduce metal-related interference with stability and cleansing performance.

Diazolidinyl Urea

What it is: A preservative ingredient, different from moisturizing urea.
In our formulas: Part of Liquid Germall Plus in selected water-based lotions.
For your product: Helps control microbial growth. It is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative; avoid if you have a relevant diagnosed contact allergy.

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

What it is: A preservative component, often abbreviated IPBC.
In our formulas: Part of Liquid Germall Plus in selected water-based lotions.
For your product: Adds protection against yeast and mold alongside the other preservative ingredients.

Caprylyl Glycol

What it is: A humectant and preservation-support ingredient.
In our formulas: Part of the preservative blend in selected scrubs and Palm Party hand wash.
For your product: Supports the preservation system while contributing conditioning properties.

Sorbic Acid

What it is: An organic-acid preservative.
In our formulas: Paired with phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol in selected scrubs and Palm Party.
For your product: Helps control yeast and mold as part of the complete preservation system.

Titanium Dioxide

What it is: A white mineral pigment and opacifier.
In our formulas: Adds whiteness or opacity to selected soaps and color blends.
For your bar: Creates a creamy-looking color and design contrast; no sunscreen or SPF benefit is claimed.

Sodium Bicarbonate

What it is: Baking soda.
In our formulas: Paired with citric acid in bath bombs and shower steamers.
For your ritual: Creates the fizz when water activates the mixture.

Sodium Citrate

What it is: A salt of citric acid.
In our formulas: Present in selected soap components.
For your product: Helps buffer the formula and bind metal ions that can affect performance.

Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate

What it is: A chelating ingredient.
In our formulas: Present in selected shea-soap components.
For your bar: Binds trace metals to support formula stability; does not replace a preservative.

Tetrasodium Etidronate

What it is: A chelating ingredient.
In our formulas: Present in selected shea-soap components.
For your bar: Helps limit metal-related changes in the formula over time.

Polysorbate 20

What it is: A solubilizer for small amounts of aromatic oil.
In our formulas: Used in Palm Party foaming hand wash.
For your wash: Helps fragrance disperse throughout the water-based product; it is distinct from Polysorbate 80, used in selected bath and scrub formulas.

Urea

What it is: A manufactured cosmetic ingredient also naturally present in skin's moisture-binding system.
In our formulas: Supports hydration in the approved Low-Key, Velvet & Ember and Get a Grip formulas.
For your skin: At our standard 2–4% levels, helps hold water and soften rough, dry-feeling skin. It is different from the preservative diazolidinyl urea.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

What it is: A water-soluble form of vitamin B3.
In our formulas: An approved Low-Key custom-formula ingredient; not in standard Low-Key Lotion.
For your skin: Chosen to support the moisture barrier and an even-looking complexion. Custom formulation testing and availability are separate from this ingredient guide.

Clays, Minerals, Color & Exfoliants

These ingredients influence color, texture, slip, polish, visual design, or the bath experience. Natural color can vary from batch to batch.

Kaolin Clay

What it is: A fine mineral clay.
In our formulas: Used in Face It and selected soaps or shower products.
For you: Adds slip and texture; in a rinse-off mask it absorbs some surface oil without a “detox” claim.

Brazilian Purple Clay

What it is: A naturally colored mineral clay.
In our formulas: Adds color and texture to Face It and selected cleansing formulas.
For your routine: Provides an absorbent mineral component and natural color variation.

French Green Clay

What it is: A green mineral clay.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps.
For your wash: Adds earthy color, texture and oil-absorbing character; does not remove toxins from the body.

Bentonite Clay

What it is: An absorbent clay that swells when wet.
In our formulas: Part of Face It dry clay mask.
For your routine: Helps absorb surface oil and gives the freshly mixed mask body.

Activated Charcoal

What it is: A fine carbon powder.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps for dark color and contrast.
For your bar: Creates its distinctive dark appearance and contrasts with lighter swirls.

Micas

What they are: Cosmetic pigment blends that add color or shimmer.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps and bath products.
For your ritual: Create color and visual detail; individual blends can also contain other pigments, so the product's color declaration controls.

Cosmetic Colorants (including CI 42090 & CI 45410)

What they are: Cosmetic dyes identified by a CI number or a D&C color name on the applicable label.
In our formulas: Used at low levels in selected soaps, shower steamers and bath products; CI 42090 and CI 45410 are specifically declared in the steamer formula.
For your ritual: Add color, not a skin-care benefit; exact dyes vary by product.

Arrowroot Powder

What it is: A fine plant starch.
In our formulas: Adjusts the feel of She Thick, Lit Lotion Bar and Face It.
For your skin: Helps temper an oily after-feel and gives dry formulas a smoother texture.

Colloidal Oat Flour, Oatmeal & Ground Oatmeal

What they are: Oats milled to different particle sizes.
In our formulas: Fine colloidal oat supports conditioning in balms, Get a Grip and Soothe; coarser oatmeal adds texture to selected soaps.
For your skin: Finely milled oat helps dry skin feel comfortable; visible oat pieces provide physical texture. Avoid if oat-allergic.

Fine Coffee Grounds & Brewed Coffee

What they are: Ground coffee particles and brewed coffee liquid.
In our formulas: Grounds add texture to selected soaps; brewed coffee appears only where the recipe lists it.
For your wash: Adds a tactile scrub or formula color.

Sugars

What they are: Fine white, brown or Demerara sugar crystals.
In our formulas: Exfoliating particles in Sunset Bonfire and selected scrubs.
For your skin: Buff away loose surface flakes as you massage; crystals dissolve with water. Use gently on intact skin.

Sea Salts, Spa Salts, Dead Sea Salt & Epsom Salt

What they are: Sea salts, mineral-rich Dead Sea salts and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt).
In our formulas: Used in Feelin’ Salty, Stayin’ Salty, bath teas and selected soaps or bath products.
For your ritual: Salt grains polish in scrubs or dissolve in a warm soak; a bath is not a proven way to correct magnesium deficiency.

Honey Granules

What it is: A dry honey-based ingredient.
In our formulas: A textural accent on selected soap bars.
For your bar: Adds visual and tactile detail; distinct from liquid honey. Not vegan.

Poppy Seeds

What they are: Small plant seeds.
In our formulas: Added to a selected cold-process soap.
For your wash: Provide visible texture and physical exfoliation; use light pressure on intact skin.

Menthol Crystals

What it is: A concentrated ingredient that creates a cooling sensation.
In our formulas: Used in selected balms and Tension Tamer oil.
For your skin: Gives a cool sensory contrast during massage; avoid eyes, mucous membranes and broken skin.

Botanicals & Herbal Tea Ingredients

Traditional uses describe herbal history, not proven results for our finished blends. Studies of concentrated preparations do not establish the effects of this brewed tea. Bath teas and topical infusions are for external use only.

Calendula Flowers

What it is: The flower of Calendula officinalis, also called pot marigold.
Traditional role: Used in topical herbal care for skin comfort.
In our formulas: Infused into carrier oils for Herbal Skin Salve, Smooth Operator, lotions and selected bath or soap formulas.
For your skin: Complements the carrier oil's softening role; an oil infusion does not capture every water-soluble flower constituent.

Chamomile Flowers

What it is: A daisy-family flower with a gentle apple-like aroma.
Traditional role: Used in calming tea rituals and after-meal blends.
In our formulas: Appears in Pipe Down, Simmer Down, Zen and other teas; also in selected oil infusions and bath blends.
Keep in mind: Avoid with a relevant daisy-family allergy; extract studies do not prove the effect of a cup of our tea.

Lavender Flowers

What it is: An aromatic flower, distinct from concentrated lavender essential oil.
Traditional role: Used in relaxation and bedtime rituals.
In our formulas: Adds floral aroma to Pipe Down, bath teas and selected oil infusions.
For your ritual: Rounds out the blend's aroma; it is not a promise of sleep or anxiety relief.

Peppermint Leaf

What it is: An aromatic mint leaf.
Traditional role: Used in after-meal herbal teas for digestive comfort.
In our formulas: Adds brisk mint to Rumbly and Snot Today; also used in bath blends and selected infusions.
Keep in mind: Mint may worsen reflux; peppermint-oil capsule studies do not establish the effects of this leaf tea.

Spearmint Leaf

What it is: A mint leaf with a gentler flavor than peppermint.
Traditional role: A familiar after-meal tea herb.
In our formulas: Softens and brightens the flavor of Zen, Just Vibing, Pipe Down and other teas.
For your cup: Makes earthy and floral blends easier to enjoy without adding sugar.

Marshmallow Root

What it is: A mucilage-containing root; unrelated to candy marshmallows.
Traditional role: Used in soothing throat and digestive herbal preparations.
In our formulas: A key botanical in Soothe & Sip.
For your cup: Adds a softer, fuller mouthfeel; follow brewing directions and medication-spacing advice on the product.

Ginger Root

What it is: The spicy rhizome commonly called ginger root.
Traditional role: Used in warming, after-meal and digestive-comfort blends.
In our formulas: Adds warmth to Rumbly, My Neck, My Back and other teas; infused oil is used separately in selected topicals.
For you: Balances sweet and earthy flavors; tea, infused oil and ginger CO2 extract have different compositions.

Cinnamon Bark, Chips & Powder

What it is: Cinnamon bark used as cut pieces or powder; Ceylon and cassia are different types.
Traditional role: Used as a warming culinary spice and after-meal tea ingredient.
In our formulas: Ceylon bark adds warmth to selected teas; a separate cinnamon-infused oil is used in Essence of Embers. Exact type follows the product.
For your cup: Adds warm spice without added sugar; do not assume all cinnamon preparations are interchangeable.

Eucalyptus Leaf

What it is: A strongly aromatic leaf, distinct from eucalyptus essential oil.
Traditional role: Used in seasonal herbal preparations.
In our formulas: A small aromatic component of Snot Today and a botanical in Breathe Easy bath tea and infused oil.
Keep in mind: Follow the exact product route and directions; essential oil must never be substituted for tea leaf.

Lemon Balm

What it is: A lemon-scented leaf in the mint family.
Traditional role: Used in gentle wind-down and digestive-comfort teas.
In our formulas: Helps shape Pipe Down, Simmer Down and Zen; also appears in Calming Soak.
For your cup: Adds a soft citrus-herbal note that balances earthier herbs.

Fennel Seed

What it is: An aromatic seed-like fruit with a naturally sweet, anise-like taste.
Traditional role: Used in after-meal teas for digestive comfort.
In our formulas: Sweet fennel is used in Rumbly, Soothe & Sip and selected newer tea formulas.
Keep in mind: Check precautions for fennel/Apiaceae allergy and pregnancy; sweet taste does not mean added sugar.

Nettle Leaf

What it is: A leafy herb with a green, earthy character.
Traditional role: Used in nourishing herbal infusions.
In our formulas: Provides the leafy foundation of Just Vibing and appears in Defense Mode.
For your cup: Balances tart and aromatic herbs; no quantified mineral intake or nutrient-deficiency benefit is claimed.

Elderberry

What it is: The dark berry of the elder plant, distinct from elderflower.
Traditional role: Used in seasonal wellness preparations.
In our formulas: Adds berry character to Defense Mode.
For your cup: Contributes tart flavor and color; follow hot-brewing directions. Concentrated syrup research does not prove a cold-prevention benefit for our tea.

Elder Flower

What it is: The small flowers of the elder plant, also called elderflower.
Traditional role: Used in seasonal herbal teas.
In our formulas: Adds a floral layer to Snot Today and Defense Mode.
For your cup: Balances stronger mint, spice and berry notes; flower and berry preparations have different roles.

American Skullcap Herb

What it is: American skullcap, Scutellaria lateriflora; different from Chinese skullcap root.
Traditional role: An American nervine, meaning a herb traditionally used for relaxation.
In our formulas: Part of the approved Simmer Down nighttime blend.
Keep in mind: May add to drowsiness; follow the tea's alcohol, sedative, driving and pregnancy cautions.

Mullein Leaf

What it is: A soft, fine-haired leaf, distinct from mullein flower.
Traditional role: Used in soothing respiratory herbal preparations.
In our formulas: Included in Snot Today and selected throat-tea variations.
For your cup: Follow the product's filtration instructions carefully to remove irritating fine plant hairs.

White Willow Bark

What it is: A bark containing salicylate-related compounds.
Traditional role: Used in traditional comfort preparations.
In our formulas: Reserved for an explicitly selected custom tea; not part of the current standard My Neck, My Back blend.
Keep in mind: Avoid with aspirin/salicylate allergy, blood thinners, pregnancy or for children; professional review is needed before use.

Thyme Leaf

What it is: An aromatic culinary herb.
Traditional role: Used in seasonal and throat-focused herbal preparations.
In our formulas: Adds herbal depth to Snot Today and Soothe & Sip.
For your cup: Provides a concentrated savory-aromatic note in a balanced blend; not an infection treatment.

Holy Basil / Tulsi

What it is: An aromatic herb also known as holy basil.
Traditional role: Used in Ayurvedic daily-wellness and stress-support traditions.
In our formulas: Appears in Zen, Pipe Down, Just Vibing and selected seasonal teas.
For your cup: Adds warm herbal depth. Studies of standardized extracts do not establish the same effect for brewed tea.

Hibiscus Flower

What it is: The tart red calyx commonly sold as hibiscus flower.
Traditional role: Enjoyed in refreshing herbal beverages.
In our formulas: Adds brightness to Just Vibing and Defense Mode.
For your cup: Provides deep red color and tangy flavor.

Lemon Verbena

What it is: A fragrant lemony leaf.
Traditional role: Used in after-meal and relaxation teas.
In our formulas: Brightens many blends, including Pipe Down, Simmer Down, Zen and Rumbly.
For your cup: Lifts heavier herbal notes with citrus aroma rather than added lemon flavoring.

Licorice Root

What it is: A naturally sweet root containing glycyrrhizin.
Traditional role: Used in soothing throat and digestive preparations.
In our formulas: Adds sweetness and rounds out standard Soothe & Sip; selected custom versions omit it.
Keep in mind: Can raise blood pressure, lower potassium and interact with medicines. Avoid during pregnancy; seek advice with high blood pressure, heart or kidney conditions.

Arnica Flower

What it is: A botanical used in external-use preparations.
Traditional role: Used in topical massage and post-activity comfort traditions.
In our formulas: Infused into oil for selected balms and Tension Tamer.
Keep in mind: For intact skin only; do not drink as tea or use on broken skin. Avoid with a relevant daisy-family allergy.

Rose Petals

What it is: Fragrant flower petals, distinct from rosehip fruit or rosehip seed oil.
Traditional role: Used in aromatic tea and bathing rituals.
In our formulas: Adds floral character to Pipe Down, Just Vibing and Calming Soak.
For your ritual: Softens the aroma of a blend and adds a floral accent.

Turmeric Root & Powder

What it is: A golden rhizome used as cut root or powder.
Traditional role: Used in warming food and herbal wellness preparations.
In our formulas: Cut root appears in selected teas such as My Neck, My Back and Defense Mode; powder may be used where the product specifies it.
For your cup: Adds earthy depth and color; curcumin-extract research does not establish the effect of a water-brewed blend.

Calendula CO2 Extract

What it is: A concentrated, oil-soluble calendula-flower extract made with carbon dioxide.
In our formulas: Used in Herbal Skin Salve, Smooth Operator, Like A Boss and Tune Up alongside the approved carrier oils.
For your skin: Adds concentrated botanical material to conditioning formulas; different from a calendula oil infusion and not a wound-treatment claim.

Arnica CO2 Extract (in Sunflower Oil)

What it is: A concentrated arnica-flower extract supplied in sunflower oil.
In our formulas: Used in Elder Elixir alongside its other approved ingredients.
For your ritual: Complements a topical massage formula; this extract is different from arnica-infused jojoba. External use on intact skin only.

Orange Peel

What it is: Dried citrus peel, not orange essential oil.
Traditional role: Used as an aromatic culinary and after-meal tea ingredient.
In our formulas: Brightens Spice, Spice Baby and Soothe & Sip.
For your cup: Balances richer spice and root notes with citrus aroma.

Cloves

What it is: The dried aromatic flower buds of the clove tree.
Traditional role: A warming culinary spice.
In our formulas: Adds a small spicy accent to Spice, Spice Baby.
For your cup: Deepens the flavor; clove essential oil is far more concentrated and is not a substitute.

Passionflower

What it is: The aerial parts of Passiflora incarnata.
Traditional role: Used in relaxation and bedtime herbal preparations.
In our formulas: A leading herb in the approved Simmer Down nighttime blend.
Keep in mind: May cause drowsiness; follow the blend's sedative, alcohol, driving and pregnancy cautions.

Valerian Root

What it is: The aromatic root of Valeriana officinalis.
Traditional role: Used in bedtime and wind-down preparations.
In our formulas: Part of Simmer Down, balanced with lemon balm, chamomile and lemon verbena.
Keep in mind: May cause drowsiness; sleep-study results are mixed and do not prove this blend treats insomnia.

Cardamom

What it is: An aromatic spice; our tea recipes specify hulled cardamom.
Traditional role: Used in warming food and after-meal tea traditions.
In our formulas: Adds aromatic depth to Rumbly, My Neck, My Back and Spice, Spice Baby.
For your cup: Rounds out ginger and cinnamon with a fragrant spice note.

Yarrow

What it is: The flowering aerial herb of yarrow, in the daisy family.
Traditional role: Used in digestive and menstrual-comfort herbal traditions.
In our formulas: Included in the draft In My Comfies tea; this entry does not mean the tea is available to buy.
Keep in mind: Avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding and with a relevant daisy-family allergy; persistent pelvic pain needs medical assessment.

Fragrance, Flavor & Aromatic Ingredients

Exact scent blends vary by product. We use supplier documentation for the intended application and formulate within the applicable IFRA use limit, generally below the maximum allowed level.

Fragrance Oils / Fragrance (Parfum)

What it is: A supplier-prepared aromatic blend, labeled Fragrance or Parfum.
In our formulas: Used in selected soaps, lotions, scrubs, shampoo, bath products and candles.
For your ritual: Creates the product's scent. A fragrance note such as honey or pistachio does not establish that food as an ingredient.
Keep in mind: Use limits are application-specific; fragrance is not universally suitable for sensitive people or pets.

Lip-Safe Flavor Oils / Flavor

What it is: Aroma and flavor blends specifically intended for lip products.
In our formulas: Used in Low-Key Lip Balm's vanilla, marshmallow and seasonal options.
For your lips: Adds flavor character; does not mean added nutrition or that candle fragrance is lip-safe.

Ginger Root CO2 Extract

What it is: A concentrated ginger extract made with carbon dioxide.
In our formulas: Used at controlled levels in Essence of Embers and Elder Elixir.
For your ritual: Adds ginger's concentrated aromatic character to a topical blend; not interchangeable with brewed ginger or infused oil.

Essential Oils

What they are: Concentrated aromatic plant oils, distinct from dried herbs, infused oils and fragrance blends.
In our formulas: Used at product-specific levels for aroma and, where appropriate, a cooling or warming sensory note.

Lavender Essential Oil — floral aromatic used in selected bath, body, and topical products.
Peppermint Essential Oil — strong mint aromatic used at controlled levels in selected bath and external-use topical products.
Mentha arvensis (Cornmint) Essential Oil — crisp mint aromatic used at a controlled level in selected shower-steamer formulas.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil — strong herbal aromatic used at controlled levels in selected external-use products.
Cedarwood Essential Oil — woody aromatic used in selected topical and body products.
Chamomile Essential Oil — concentrated floral-herbal aromatic used in selected topical formulas.
Black Pepper Essential Oil — warm spice aromatic used at a very low level in selected external-use formulas.

Keep in mind: Follow the exact finished-product directions. Do not swallow or apply an undiluted essential oil, or assume it is suitable for children or pets.

Vanillyl Butyl Ether

What it is: A cosmetic sensory warming ingredient, often called VBE.
In our formulas: Used in Essence of Embers warming salve.
For your skin: Creates a warming sensation during use; warmth is not evidence of improved circulation or pain treatment. Follow the finished product's cautions.

Candle Ingredients

The wax and fragrance used to make our candles. For burning directions and care, visit Product Care.

Coconut-Soy Wax

What it is: The wax blend forming the body of our candles.
In our formulas: The current ceramic-candle formula combines Freedom Coconut Soy and Golden Brands 454 waxes; older candle formats may differ.
For your space: Holds and releases fragrance as the candle warms; performance also depends on wick, vessel and use.

Candle Fragrance

What it is: A fragrance oil selected for candle use.
In our formulas: Gives each candle its individual scent profile.
For your space: Provides ambient fragrance; not a skincare ingredient, air purifier or guaranteed pet-safe aroma.

Important Use & Transparency Notes

Individual Product Labels Control

This guide brings together ingredient facts from across the collection; it is not the ingredient list for every product. If this page and an individual product’s ingredients appear to differ, stop using the product and contact us so we can check the exact item.

Formula & Supplier Changes

Formulas, component ingredients and suppliers may be updated when needed for safety, stability, availability or product improvement. We will update labels as required. Customers with allergies or sensitivities should review the label each time they purchase.

Herbal Tea

Our current teas are conventional caffeine-free herbal beverages, not dietary supplements. Information on this page is educational and is not medical advice. Herbal ingredients can interact with medications or be unsuitable during pregnancy, nursing, before surgery, or with certain health conditions. Follow product warnings and consult a qualified healthcare professional when appropriate.

Product-Specific Animal Use

Our main range is made for people. Animal use is limited to what an individual product label expressly permits for the stated species. Do not use a dog-directed product on a cat or another animal unless the product specifically says it is appropriate. Products with animal-use directions are researched and formulated in-house but have not been veterinarian reviewed. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your veterinarian about an animal’s individual needs.

Topical Products

External-use products should be used only as directed. Avoid eyes and other sensitive areas, keep out of reach of children and animals, and discontinue use if irritation occurs. A patch test is advisable when trying a new product, especially for customers with sensitive skin or known allergies.

Allergens & Sensitivities

Depending on the product, ingredients may include oats, almond-derived oil, coconut, soy, honey, beeswax, lanolin, fragrance, essential oils and other botanicals. These are examples, not a complete allergen list, and this is not an allergen-free collection. Review each product label and contact us before purchase if you need clarification about a particular ingredient.

Fragrance & Essential Oils

Fragrance and essential oils are selected for their intended application and used according to formula-specific safety documentation. “Natural,” “plant-derived,” or “within IFRA limits” does not mean sensitivity-free or universally appropriate. Never use this guide as a direction to consume or apply a concentrated aromatic ingredient by itself.

Candle Safety

Follow the warning label supplied with every candle. Trim and maintain the wick as directed, burn on a stable heat-resistant surface, keep the candle within sight, and keep it away from children, pets, drafts, and combustible materials. Discontinue burning at the minimum wax level stated on the product instructions.

Organic & Sourcing Language

Organic sourcing statements refer to the herb ingredients where supported, not certification of our finished blends or other products. U.S.-based suppliers may obtain agricultural ingredients from growing regions around the world.

Handcrafted & Component Formulas

We formulate and make our products in-house. Some soap and shampoo formats begin with professionally manufactured components; we customize and finish those products ourselves and disclose the component ingredients in this guide rather than presenting the component as a single unnamed base.

Ingredient References

Herbal monographs describe traditional preparations; supplier pages explain ingredient identity and function. Neither establishes a clinical result for our finished products.

Thoughtful by Design

Every Ingredient Should Have a Reason

Our standard is straightforward: understand what is in the formula, use each ingredient for a defined purpose, preserve products responsibly when water is present, and give customers enough information to make an informed choice.

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